The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1887-11-11

live elsewhere. fvc years later; Tor the
old lady would come every month or
two to pay her respects, and was EN-.
ployed by Mrs. Loring to knit mittens,
ETC., for the children, and sometimes
on Sunday she met the pair on their
way to church. or walking in the after
noon. Nicholas always with his old
mother on his arm. Never once did
she see younger woman with him.
But she did not see Tilda for over
three years from the day she left her.
and supposed she had left the city.
more especially as her husband had
some thought of doing SO when they
were married. But one morning, at
the end of that time, she was told there
was a woman in the kitchen who
wanted to see her. The woman was
wretchedly clad. thin. haggard. and
scared-looking. Could she be?-yes.
she was Tilda.
Mrs. Loring was shocked. "Come
into the dining-rOom." she said. 81
must see You alone. l fear you are in
great trouble"
Poor Tilda! Mrs. Lorings kind,
familiar voice quite broke her down.
and she could do nothing but sit and
sob. 1t was evident, as she tottered
from the kitchen, that her strength
was nearly spent, SO Mrs. Loring did
not try to make her talk unit. she had
brought her little tea. Then her
story came out--the old one which sc
many of us have heard; husband
given more and more to the vice OF
drinking, and her life one of neglect,
cruel treatment, and want. She had
already borne three children. the
youngest of whom was not yet two
weeks old. and was huddled under her
shawl, and all of them were starving.
Mrs. Loring. rs usual, was equal to
the emergency. She telcphoned for Il
hack, and while it was coming. hastily
prepared bundle of Immediate neces-
sites, and was soon with Tilda i'm the
wretched place she called home, where
she saw the poor creature back into
her bed. and paid a ncighbor to see to
her and the chil,ircn till she should
be stronger; but the exposure had
been too great, and she died the next
week. On one of the last days in which
she had intervals of consciousness she
beckoned Mrs. Loring, who had come
to see how she was. to the bed. '.Nich.
olas come back in America" she said.
Mrs. Loring nodded assent. yes,
l see him often, Tilda."
IL hev seen en- on street, tree
year go" Tilda continued, speaking
with difficulty; lem say noting, but
EN- look, so | tink God lookin' Mt
me!'
She had not spoken SO much before
for many hours. and her voice died
weakly away. Mrs. Loring thought
she was about to lape again into UNI
consciousness. but watching a second
she noticed voiceless motion of the
lips and IN anxious look in the eyes,
that showed she was trying to hold her
wandering mind till strength should
come to speak again.
"Would You like me to say some.
thing to him. Tilda?" she asked,
gently.
A look of relief came to the poor.
pinched face. .'Tal en-" she began.
family em-ask en-" Her mind
was slipping from her. and she seemed
to clutch for it until she should have
finished; but her thoughts would nc
longer shape themselves in English. OF
remember a mcdiating third party.
20 Kara van! forlat mig. for jag ha1
handlat lila. Gud har straifat mig-och.
forlat forlat mig" TO friend. forgive
me. for God has punished my sin. For.
give-forgive-"1 she whispered.
hoarsely. The last words died in an
almost inarticulate murmur. and she
passed again into an unconscious state.
from which she did not again rally
Henrietta Il. Eliot, in Ha'pers BGzar.
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